Rubio visits Central Asia seeking closer US ties with region

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 18 Oct, 16:02 · Archive

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, for talks with foreign ministers of five Central Asian countries.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Sunday for talks with foreign ministers of five Central Asian countries under the C5+1 format. The summit runs through Tuesday and includes bilateral discussions with senior officials from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Rubio is accompanied by more than 200 American business leaders, signalling the importance the US administration places on commercial engagement.

Discussions are expected to cover trade, investment, critical minerals and security cooperation. Speaking before departure from Washington, Rubio said the timing allowed the United States to bring together all five foreign ministers simultaneously. He described such strategic engagement as often suffering when diplomatic attention focuses on immediate international crises.

The visit reflects a shift in Washington's approach to the region. Rather than the conditional engagement of earlier decades, when the US offered investment and recognition in exchange for democratic reforms and human rights improvements, the current approach is described as pragmatic and transactional. According to a regional expert quoted by Al Jazeera, previous Western moralising on democracy and human rights had prompted Central Asian leaders to turn towards China and Russia instead.

How it is being reported

• Rubio arrives in Samarkand as Washington seeks closer ties with Central AsiaThe US secretary of state will meet the foreign ministers of five Central Asian countries on Monday under the C5+1 format. Trade, investment, critical minerals and security are expected to feature in discussions, while more than 200 American business executives accompany the visit.Euronews · 18 Oct, 15:45
• Rubio’s Uzbekistan trip underlines Central Asia’s hunt for diverse partnersCan the United States reassert influence with pragmatic, transactional approach to Central Asia?Al Jazeera · 17 Oct, 09:27

In this story: Marco Rubio · Samarkand · Uzbekistan · Kazakhstan · Kyrgyzstan · Tajikistan · Turkmenistan · United States

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem